The Only Poisonous Bird in the World — And Someone Licked It

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:01]There is a bird whose feathers will numb your fingers [music] the moment you touch them, and scientists only found out because a researcher licked one by accident. The hooded pitohui of Papua New Guinea carries batrachotoxin in its feathers and skin, the same class of toxin found in poison dart frogs. It was [music] discovered in 1992 when ornithologist Jack Dumbacher scratched himself handling one, then instinctively licked his hand. His mouth went numb for hours.

[00:00:24]>> [music] >> The bird gets the toxin from the corosine beetles it eats and stores it as a defense.

[00:00:28]>> [music] >> Predators learn fast not to touch it. It is the only known poisonous bird in the world, and someone had to lick it to find out. Drop a like if you would have also licked it.